Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 10/8/24

Into October, finally some cold mornings (as low as 29 degrees on 10/4) driving temps into the low 60’s (as it should be).  Colors starting to pop and Musky action on the upswing.  Our weather has been either calm or very windy, but one constant has been very few clouds.  Somewhere in the middle would be a much better compromise for us anglers.  Bite windows have been small for some species, but when it’s on, it’s been good.

Smallmouth Bass:  Very Good-Good – Two distinct bites…off-shore, along coontail edges or over rock humps.  Numbers of Smallies to 16” using drop-shot rigs with 3” minnow imitations.  For a crack at a big fish, work top-water (Whopper Ploppers, Choppos, Torpedo’s) over shallow weeds.  Fish to 6 ½ #’s this past week with several 5#+ fish from reports of guide Todd Powell!

Crappie:  Very Good-Good – Wind made weekend bite tough to work for Crappies.  Yet once surface temps hit below the mid 60-degree mark, Crappies have been on the feed.  Depth of 10-16’ with wood or green weed edges.  Medium fatheads or 1/16 oz jigs with Charlie Brewer Crappie Sliders, Garland Slab Slayers or Mr. Crappie Sugar Gliders either jigged or worked under a slip-float have been killer.  Good catches and size to 14” this past week.

Musky:  Good-Very Good – It’s the start of “sucker season”.  While bucktails and top-water lures still providing good results (and will until surface temps hit 55 degrees or so/turn-over), suckers are really coming into play.  Fish just outside of shallow weed flats, drawing fish to suckers on quick-set rigs with blades.  Twitch and gliders also picking up their share.

Northern Pike:  Good-Very Good – Liking the cooler temps.  Good catches reported from anglers casting spinnerbaits or jigging chub/jig combos on wire leaders.  Some very nice mid-30” fish being caught on 12-13” suckers meant for Musky.

Yellow Perch:  Good – Best along sandgrass just outside coontail edges or mixed in drown weeds.  ½ crawlers or medium fatheads on weedless jigs, Lindy rigs or under slip-floats.

Walleye:  Good-Fair – Wind held off what was an improving bite.  On “fishable” days, outside weeds over sandgrass in 15-18’ and also, depending on lake, over gravel/rock humps in 17-28’.  Redtails along weeds.  Large fatheads or ½ crawlers on 1/8-1/4 oz jigs.  May be the cloudless skies, but the hard jigging lures (Shiver Minnows, Jigging Raps) have not been as effective, as bite over deep has been light.

Largemouth Bass:  Fair – Not many anglers actively pursuing.  Outside weed edges as bigger fish rule the shallow weeds.  Wacky Worms, drop-shotting been best.  Some top-water where competition from Musky not present.

Bluegill:  Fair – Had a great run!  Wind over the weekend made pan fishing almost impossible.  Seems bite fading as water cools.

We’ve seen water temps drop from low 70’s over a week ago into upper 50’s to low 60’s (62 about average).  Definitely bringing about some better patterns for the “October” anglers pursuing Musky, Walleye, Smallmouth and Crappies.  With the two-week forecast showing lows below 40 degrees almost every morning and highs of mid 60’s at the warmest, we should start seeing signs of turn-over in a week or so.  Don’t confuse turn-over with the heavy algae blooms on some of our lakes, those should be clearing up with the colder temps.